Hop plant named &#39;NZH063&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct hop plant is described. The new cultivar results out of selection from a population of seedlings derived from deliberate crossing ‘Cascade’ (seed parent; not patented) and tetraploid male selection 00.L123-168 (not patented). The new cultivar, ‘NZH063’, is characterised by having cones which are late-season maturing and having medium alpha acid content. The new cultivar is suitable for beer flavouring.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application no. 63/004,325, filed Apr. 2, 2020, which is incorporated by reference herein to the extent that there is no inconsistency with the present disclosure.

Genus and species of plant claimed: Humulus lupulus L.

Variety denomination: ‘NZH063’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar of hop, Humulus lupulus L., was created in the course of a planned breeding program carried out at Motueka, New Zealand. It was selected from a population of seedlings derived from crossing ‘Cascade’ (seed parent; not patented) and tetraploid male selection 00.L123-168 (not patented). The cross was carried out in January 2012. Seeds of the cross were germinated and their seedlings were then raised and planted in the field in the same location in November 2012. The seedlings remained in the field for two seasons (2012-13 and 2013-14) to allow for agronomic and chemistry traits to be measured and/or assessed. The genotype, ‘NZH063’, was identified as having potential as a new cultivar. During the 2014-15 season it was clonally propagated using soft tip methods at Motueka, New Zealand. The resulting plants were found to be true to type demonstrating that the characteristics of the new cultivar ‘NZH063’ are stable and transmitted without change through succeeding generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A new and distinct hop plant is described herein. The ‘NZH063’ cultivar is characterised by having cones which are late-season maturing, and medium alpha acid content which has significant levels of farnesene in its essential oil profile and a high humulene caryophyllene ratio. The new cultivar is suitable for beer flavouring.

In 2014-15, ‘NZH063’ was clonally propagated using soft tip methods at Motueka, New Zealand. The resulting plants were found to be true to type demonstrating that the characteristics of the new cultivar ‘NZH063’ are stable and transmitted without change through succeeding generations.

In 2015 it was decided to advance ‘NZH063’ due to its agronomic and chemistry properties for further testing including brewing trials. Further plants were propagated and a trial plot was planted in 2017-18. Brewing trials were conducted in the 2017 to 2020 seasons.

‘NZH063’ is maintained at Motueka, New Zealand, where it has undergone observations for uniformity. All plants have been found to be true to type, that is, no off types have been observed. ‘NZH063’ is distinguished from its parent female parent, ‘Cascade’ as ‘NZH063’ has late cone maturation while ‘Cascade’ has a very early cone maturation. ‘NZH063’ has medium length cones that are medium ovate in longitudinal cross section while ‘Cascade’ has long cones that are narrow ovate in longitudinal cross section. The pollen parent, 00.L123-168, is a male and thus does not produce cones.

Under New Zealand growing conditions ‘NZH063’ is distinguished from varieties of common knowledge by the following characteristics: When compared to ‘Kohatu®’ (patented; U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,985), ‘Wakatu™’ (not patented), ‘Dr Rudi’ (not patented) and ‘Hersbrucker Pure’ (not patented), ‘NZH063’ has cones that mature later. In addition, ‘NZH063’ typically has more open cones than ‘Kohatu®’, ‘Dr Rudi’ and ‘Hersbrucker Pure’. The foliage of ‘NZH063’ is denser than the foliage of ‘Kohatu®. The main shoot of ‘NZH063’ has weak anthocyanin coloration while ‘Wakatu™’ has absent or very weak anthocyanin coloration. When compared to ‘Kohatu®, ‘Whakatu™’, ‘Cascade’ and ‘Dr Rudi’, which have an even distribution of laterals, ‘NZH063’ has a distribution of laterals predominately in the top third.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the plant habit, cones, and leaves of the new cultivar as depicted in colours as nearly true as is reasonably possible to make the same in colour illustration of this character. The plants shown in these photographs were six years old.

FIG. 1: ‘NZH063’ stipule.

FIG. 2: ‘NZH063’ cones.

FIG. 3: Upper and underside of ‘NZH063’ leaves.

FIG. 4: ‘NZH063’ whole plant.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a description of the new cultivar with colour terminology in accordance with The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Charts (R.H.S.C.C.) 2001 edition. The specimens described were six years old and were grown at Motueka, New Zealand. The observations were made over the 2019-2021 seasons.

-   Plant form and vigour: Mature plants had a normal growth type and     produced a yield (averaging 2.28 tonnes/ha) of late-season maturing     cones. The shape of the plant tended to be cylindrical to club     shaped with the head being high to very high volume. The main shoot     of a one year old plant had an average vine diameter half way up the     vine of 8.7 mm, and anthocyanin coloration was weak. Node pubescence     was weak. The average internode length was 246 mm. -   Laterals: The attitude of the laterals was spreading. The side     shoots from the middle third of the plant were medium in length,     averaged 51.8 cm, and produced a medium number of cones, an average     of 5.6 per node. The side shoots from the top third of the plant     were longer with an average length of 54.8 cm and produced an     average of 2.8 cones/node. There was an average of 6.9 nodes per     lateral in the middle third of the plant and an average of 6.3 nodes     per lateral in the upper third of the plant. Stipule pose is upright     and stipule colour is green 144C. -   Leaves: The leaves were lobed with predominantly five lobes. The     medium sized, medium blistered leaves were opposite with crenate     margins. The average leaf length was 151 mm and average width was     166 mm. The upper leaf surface colour was Green, 137A with medium     intensity. Venation type is palmate and venation colour is 144A.     Petioles have an average length of 85 mm, an average width of 4 mm     and the colour is near 60B. -   Cones: Were medium in size and medium-ovate in shape in longitudinal     section; in cross section they were square in shape. The cone     average length was 46.7 mm and average width 21.9 mm. Bracts were     medium-large in size, with an average length of 21.1 mm and average     width 13.6 mm, Green in colour, near 145C. The cones were open and     the bract apex was short in length. Bracteole had an average length     of 16.2 mm and average width of 10 mm. The bracterole colour was     157B. Strigs were long, and had an average length of 34.7 mm, with     an average width of 3.7 mm. The colour of the strig was Green, near     145B. -   Physiological timing: Flowering commences mid-season in Motueka, New     Zealand around the 5-15 January. Harvest is late in the New Zealand     season, commencing mid- to late-March, under normal conditions. -   Chemistry profile: ‘NZH063’ has undergone extensive chemistry     profile testing. NZH063 has medium alpha acid levels around 9%, low     Beta acid levels around 4% and cohumulone levels around 32%. -   Use: Primarily flavouring and bittering ingredient for beer. -   Pest and disease: ‘NZH063’ does not appear particularly resistant or     susceptible to any particular pests or diseases known to afflict     Humulus lupulus. -   Hardiness: The plant cold hardiness according to the American zone     classification has not been determined. 

1. A new and distinct hop plant substantially as illustrated and described herein. 